Where does fear originate in the brain? A coordinate-based meta-analysis of explicit and implicit fear processing.

Abstract in brief

• The meta-analysis identified a core network for fear processing involving the amygdala, pulvinar, and fronto-occipital regions, which are active in both explicit and implicit fear.
• Explicit fear processing is associated with increased activation in areas related to visual attention and context, such as the pulvinar and parahippocampal gyrus.
• Implicit fear relies more on the cerebellum and amygdala pathway, indicating an automatic alarm system that operates below conscious awareness.